From Force to Fortress: Building Europe's Strategic Infrastructure

03nov14:0016:30From Force to Fortress: Building Europe's Strategic InfrastructureHosted by Clifford Chance together with GIIA

Event Details

Over the past decades, infrastructure was primarily about efficiency, liberalisation and economic optimisation.

Today, infrastructure is becoming a matter of power, sovereignty and security. Energy networks and supply, ports, rail corridors, airports, data centres, interconnectors, submarine cables, semiconductor facilities, defence supply chains and satellites are increasingly viewed as strategic assets. The question is no longer simply “what generates the highest return?” but “what makes Europe stronger, more resilient and more competitive?”

This session naturally responds to the morning InfraVision/Vauban Infrastructure Partners session “The Awakening of the Force”. If that session asks how infrastructure can be a major lever to achieve the required transitions, the afternoon session asks how Europe converts that force into strategic capability.

Schedule

3 November 2026
14:00From Force to Fortress: Building Europe’s Strategic Infrastructure14:00 - 14:10
Charlotte Madden, Partner and Co-head of the Infrastructure Sector, Clifford Chance
14:10Opening conversation: Can Europe Still Master its Own Destiny?14:10 - 14:40
Sovereignty, Power and Infrastructure in the New Global Order
This session will be held in French with simultaneous English interpretation.
François Hollande
(with Patrick Tardivy, Clifford Chance)
14:40Fireside chat: Europe as a Power in a World of Empires: Building the Infrastructure of Strategic Resilience14:40 - 15:05
A Strategic and Military Perspective
This session will be held in French with simultaneous English interpretation.
General Pierre Schill
(with Paul Loisel, Clifford Chance)
15:05
Main panel: Building the Fortress: From Strategic Ambition to Infrastructure Delivery
15:05 - 16:00
Jon Phillips, GIIA (moderator)
Vivian Nicoli, Managing Director, Infrastructure, Europe, La Caisse
Stéphane Ifker, Managing Partner and Co-Chief Investment Officer, Antin Infrastructure Partners
Manuel Cermerón Romero, Director Growth & Transformation – Municipal Activity, Veolia
General Pierre Schill, Former Chief of Staff of French Army (as "grand témoin")
Cécile Prévieu, Executive Vice President, in charge of Networks activities, ENGIE
16:00Questions from audience16:00 - 16:15
Panel speakers
16:15Fireside closing: From Force to Fortress: What Europe Must Do Next16:15 - 16:30
Mounir Corm, Founding Partner and deputy CEO, Vauban Infrastructure Partners
(with Delphine Siino Courtin, Clifford Chance)